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Bill would criminalize knowingly driving around emergency barricades; supporters and opponents clash
Summary
Representative Josh Penner said HB 2203 responds to recent flood responses where motorists drove around barricades, creating rescues and risks to first responders; fire chiefs supported the measure while criminal-defense groups called it disproportionate and urged making it an infraction instead.
Lawmakers weighed competing public-safety and civil-justice concerns during a hearing on substitute House Bill 2203, which would establish the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations for knowingly driving into closed emergency or work zones.
Tim Ford, committee staff, summarized the measure as creating a misdemeanor offense that is elevated to a gross misdemeanor if the violation requires emergency…
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